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KUALA LUMPUR – After Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) denial, Umno, too, is dismissing talk of a post-election pact between PN and Barisan Nasional (BN).
Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said no talks had taken place with PN leaders about forming a government after the 15th general election (GE15) this Saturday, if no coalition wins enough seats to form one by itself.
Mohamad told Free Malaysia Today he was unaware of any such discussions, or he would have been involved.
The BN deputy chairman was refuting claims by Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who said today that leaders from PN parties, PAS and Bersatu had met with Umno leaders ahead of polling on November 19.
Anwar, who was speaking in Sg Besar, Selangor, today, had named Mohamad as well as Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who is BN treasurer.
“I know they have met. They have started negotiating, because they know they are lagging behind,” Anwar was reported saying.
This comes amid claims, citing a survey, that PH could win nearly 100 seats in the peninsula and could form the government by itself.
Earlier today, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin denied that PN and BN would form a post-GE15 pact to form the government if neither coalition won enough seats to do so by itself.
Muhyiddin’s statement followed news reports of PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan saying that PN and BN would likely form an alliance after the polls.
The PN chairman said Takiyuddin had never been given the mandate to hold such negotiations with BN.
After Muhyiddin’s correction, Takiyuddin told the media that his statement had been taken out of context and affirmed his confidence that PN would be able to form a government by itself.
GE15 is one of the most closely fought elections, given that there are three major coalitions competing for the first time, and observers reckon that none will win a commanding majority of Parliament’s 222 seats. – The Vibes, November 15, 2022
